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Mennonite Central Committee

Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ

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Mennonite Central Committee

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches, shares God's love and compassion for all in the name of Christ by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice. ​

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  3. Four ways MCC is responding to COVID-19

Four ways MCC is responding to COVID-19

March 30, 2020

Story by Jason Dueck

Things like frequent handwashing and social distancing have become the new normal. This is life during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures help reduce the spread and keep everyone safe. We’re all in this together. 

But the hardships we bear are not the same. Some of our neighbors will be faced with impossible choices like staying home safely or earning enough to pay rent. Others have no one to call when they need help buying groceries. This virus is not an equalizer. It’s especially true for the tens of millions around the world who were already vulnerable before this crisis began. They face even greater risks during this pandemic.  

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) knows this well. For over a century, MCC has cared for people who are vulnerable around the world. We know there’s not just one answer to a crisis. However, there are areas of MCC’s work that are vital to supporting people who are particularly vulnerable in situations like this.

Healthcare 

Temporary shelters, close quarters and a lack of hygiene supplies—this is where disease and infection spread. It’s also the reality in the Mubimbi and Poste displaced persons camps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo.) MCC is partnering with the ECC-MERU (Church of Christ in Congo) to provide healthcare to displaced people there. A clinic provides treatment for the hundreds of people living in each camp.

Angela Bifuko Bahati (centre, orange dress) and her family live in the Mubimbi camp outside of Minova in eastern DR Congo. They have access to a clinic operated by ECC-MERU and supported by MCC. (L to R) Shakuru Ndabateze, Furaha Nyamugisha, Esther Ndabateze, Angela Bifuko Bahati, Tumusifu Ndabateze, and Dadu Elaude.MCC photo/Matthew Lester

Water and hygiene

Cilana Louissine shows how to safely wash fruit using what she learned in MCC-supported hygiene training in Haiti. Cholera can be spread by insects that land on fruit and vegetables after coming into contact with infected waste. Thoroughly disinfecting produce with water and bleach is a simple and effective way to prevent the spread of the diseaseMCC photo/Annalee Giesbrecht

Now that you’re washing your hands what seems like a dozen times a day, it’s easy to see the importance of clean, safe water. Many people around the world don’t have access to it. MCC supports water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs that drastically reduce the spread of diseases. Clean water, effective hygiene practices and proper waste management keep people healthy. 

Two remote Haitian communities, Wopisa-Gabriyèl and Kabay, saw 291 deaths from cholera in 2016. In 2017, MCC began public hygiene training, providing water purification equipment and building latrines. The result? Cholera was eliminated from the two communities.

Martine Yorassem tends to a fire made to boil water at her home in the village of Kagroï, Chad. In southern Chad, thousands of refugees have fled violence in Central African Republic, living in government camps or nearby villages with limited access to clean water. MCC partner SECADEV (Catholic Relief and Development) works in the area providing water pumps, latrines and hygiene education. MCC photo/Colin Vandenberg

In southern Chad, tens of thousands of refugees who’ve fled Central African Republic have virtually no access to resources. Living in camps and nearby villages, they often rely on unsafe open-pit wells for water. MCC partner SECADEV (Catholic Relief and Development) is working to install new sealed water pumps, build latrines and provide education on proper hygiene practices. This ensures waste doesn’t contaminate the local water supply. 

Food assistance

Rana Muhammad Raslan, participated in a two-month chef training provided by MCC partner Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). 1:37
Rana Muhammad Raslan, participated in a two-month chef training provided by MCC partner Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). 1:37

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Trauma healing through food | Syria | Video

Rana Muhammad Raslan, participated in a two-month chef training provided by MCC partner Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

It’s not unusual to hear reports of stores with empty shelves and restaurants closing in recent days. Feeling unsure of secure food is a new feeling for many of us. But millions around the world can’t walk to a nearby supermarket or order takeout when they are hungry. MCC provides emergency food and helps farmers grow food to feed their families.

After Cyclone Idai hit southeastern Africa in 2019, many families had no access to food. MCC and local Brethren in Christ churches worked to provide emergency food to thousands. This urgent work continues across the globe including places like Syria, DR Congo and Colombia.

Sok Sovan feeds chickens at her family farm in the village of Tbeng, Cambodia. MCC partner Organization to Develop our Village strengthens the knowledge and practices of farm co-operatives so they can help local farmers improve their income and food security. MCC photo/Matthew Lester

In rural Cambodia, it’s common for families to run small-scale rice farms and vegetable gardens. But many don’t produce enough to sustain their homes. MCC partner Organization to Develop our Villages invests in farmer-led co-operatives, which bolster families’ ability to feed themselves and sell their surplus to pay for things like medical care.

Peacebuilding

Students from the Macha Girls Peace Club in Zambia in 2019. MCC partners with the Brethren in Christ Church to run peace clubs in each of their 12 schools in Zambia. The clubs discuss issues around conflict, violence, abuse and genderMCC photo/Amanda Talstra

The constant stream of news updates about the spread of COVID-19 has caused fear and anxiety for many. MCC’s peacebuilding tackles the difficult work of creating peaceful dialogue in areas of tension and conflict while also educating people about how to prevent the spread of the virus.  

In 2006, Issa Ebombolo started Peace Clubs in three schools in Zambia to help students build peace and speak up for their rights and safety. Now, more than 650 peace clubs exist in 14 African countries, not just in schools. Communities, churches and refugee camps have also adopted this nonviolent method of building peace.  

MCC is well positioned to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis in the places we work. Together, we can care for our neighbors, whether across the street or around the globe. Thank you for your support.

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